Hedy Epstein

Born Hedy Wachenheimer in Freiburg, Germany, Epstein's early life was irrevocably shaped by the rise of Nazism. At just 14, she was fortunate enough to escape Germany on a Kindertransport to England, leaving her parents behind. They would later perish at Auschwitz, a tragedy that undoubtedly fueled her lifelong commitment to human rights.

After moving to the United States in 1948, Epstein became a vocal advocate for various causes, including fair housing and, most prominently, Palestinian rights. She was known for her unyielding activism, often participating in demonstrations well into her advanced age, getting arrested more times than some people change their socks. While her efforts to highlight the plight of Palestinians garnered both praise and criticism, her tenacity was undeniable.

While her Jewish identity was clearly rooted in her German-Jewish heritage and the horrors she experienced, she largely focused her public life on universal human rights rather than Jewish communal engagement. Her advocacy for Palestinians, however, often put her at odds with mainstream Jewish organizations, leading to a complex legacy within the Jewish community. Still, surviving the Holocaust and fighting for what she believed in, even controversially, is certainly kvel-worthy in its own unique way.